Wake My Heart (Jasper Falls 1)

Or, what if living with Ryan made her as happy as hanging out with him did? Their life would be one long sleepover. They could actually plan ahead and grocery shop like a normal couple, instead of debating over takeout each night. Her furniture would mix with his. They could maybe get a dog. There were so many possibilities. The only thing that scared her was how badly she wanted all of those things.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

His eyes turned pleading. “I love you, Maggie. You’re all I want.”

Her heart warmed and she smiled up at him. “Then yes.”

A smile jumped to his face and he hugged her, lifting her off the ground. “Yes?”

“Yes! Let’s move in together!”

His mouth found hers and he kissed her, sealing the deal. Her body slid down his, bringing her feet back to the earth. He looked at her and laughed. “I can’t believe you’re buying the bar.”

She laughed with him, still a little stunned herself. “Did you think we were going to let you all keep it? It belongs in the hands of an O’Malley.”

He arched a brow. “Careful. You might not be an O’Malley for long if I have my way.” He left her gaping on the front lawn and yelled, “Come on. My mum’s putting out cake and coffee. She said to get there before it’s all gone.”

Her chest warmed as she watched him glance back and smile. Four months ago, she thought she had her future figured out. She could see it as a bleak, dark road ahead. But then Ryan showed up, letting a little light in, and her heart had been healing ever since.

She jogged after him and took his hand. Their arms swung as they walked towards town. They smiled at the neighbors they passed, waving and saying hello to strangers and friends. She was finally alive again. Living. All because this beautiful man rescued the last of her heart and brought her back to life.

Epilogue

Maggie pounded on the door to the loft. “Let’s go, Perrin. It’s five of five.”

Her sister barreled down the stairs of the second floor, into the back hall of the pub. “My shift doesn’t start until five.”

“Would it kill you to get out there a few minutes early? Sue’s slammed.”

Her sister rolled her eyes and hooked a left into the pool table room. “You’re a nag.”

“I heard that!”

“I wasn’t whispering!”

Maggie returned to her office and reviewed the schedule for the weekend. Everything looked right. She grabbed her purse under the desk and shut out the lights.

“Hey, Maggie May, come have a beer with me.” Jim called from the bar.

Unable to resist her old boss, she climbed up on the stool to his right. Sue uncapped her regular and slid it in front of her. “Thanks.”

“So how are things?” he asked.

“I can’t complain.”

“You look good. Happy.”

She pressed the mouth of her beer to her smile and took a sip. “I am.”

Perrin filled orders behind the bar and teased the regulars. It was nice to see her sister’s smile had returned, too. Her beautiful sister wasn’t hard up for attention, as every single man in town now waited for her to notice them every weekend. She had found her calling, and Maggie might have found hers, as well.

Maggie liked the office work. It made her feel good to manage a business and plan things behind the scenes. She especially loved giving young musicians a chance to perform. But most of all, she loved the sense of family she found within O’Malley’s.

Arms reached around her waist, startling her until she recognized Ryan’s scent. She leaned her weight into his chest and smiled up at him.

“You started without me.” He kissed her cheek and climbed on the stool to her right. He leaned around and shook Jim’s hand. “You keeping an eye on her?”

“I think that ring on her finger’s doing the trick. Haven’t seen any men sniffing around.”

Maggie’s gaze dropped to the diamond weighing down her left hand, giving her fingers a wiggle, never growing tired of how it glistened in the light.

Ryan had proposed at exactly the right moment, when the Eagles won the Super Bowl. She’d flung herself off the couch and into his arms, screaming with excitement. He pulled out the ring and made the day one of the best in her life.

They were getting married next June. Perrin was planning all the details, and Maggie insisted she keep things on the small side—as small as things could be when her fiancé had a family the size of Texas.

She couldn’t wait. They planned to say their vows in front of a lake on his cousins’ property. Then they would have a small reception at the pub. Ryan’s mother was a big help when it came to planning the food and menus. Maggie loved how she kept a positive attitude through even the dullest arrangements. She also loved that Rosemarie would soon be her mother-in-law and looked forward to one day calling her Mum.